Signal generating circuit and related method for activating physical channel between host and peripheral device

ABSTRACT

A signal generating circuit of a peripheral device for sending a frame information structure (FIS) to a host via a serial transmission channel to change a busy bit representing the state of the peripheral device. The signal generating circuit includes a trigger generator and a signal generator. The trigger generator generates a trigger signal by monitoring a control signal of the signal generating circuit. The signal generator, coupled to the trigger generator, generates the indication according to the trigger signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/595,424, which was filed on Jul. 4, 2005 and is included herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a signal generating circuit and a method foractivating a physical channel between a host and a peripheral device,and more particularly, to the signal generating circuit and relatedmethod for activating the physical channel between the host and theperipheral device without the help of a microprocessor disposed in theperipheral device.

Serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) specifications are appliedto a transmission interface between a host and a peripheral device, suchas a hard disk drive or an optical disc drive. SATA specificationsdefine two pairs of differential signals, which are different from theforty or eighty parallelized signals in the advanced technologyattachment (ATA) specifications. When a system utilizes the SATAinterface to communicate with other devices, the system would have theadvantages of less pin counts, lower operation voltages and highertransmission rate. SATA specifications also include some new functions,such as flow control and retransmission, to perform simple control on adata stream.

Referring to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of out of band (OOB)signals specified in the SATA specifications. SATA specificationsspecify three OOB signals, which are COMRESET, COMINIT and COMWAKE, tomake sure the differential and common levels of the signal lines shallcomply with the SATA specifications for in-band data transmission. Afterthe OOB sequence is completed, the communication link is established andnormal operation may begin. And it is a state defined as Phy Readystate. When entering the Phy Ready state, the host and the peripheraldevice corresponding to two different sides of the physical channel aremaintained to be synchronized with each other so that signalstransmitted from one side of the physical channel are also valid to theother side of the physical channel.

Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 simultaneously. FIG. 2 is ahost-to-device register FIS structure according to SATA standards whileFIG. 3 is a device-to-host register FIS structure according to SATAstandards. As the Phy Ready state mentioned above is achieved, the hostis specifically prohibited from writing the Features, Sector Count,Sector Number, Cylinder Low, Cylinder High, or Device/Head registers,whose corresponding fields defined in a register FIS can be found onFIG. 2 and FIG. 3, until the peripheral device replies Register FIS toclear either value in BSY or DRQ field in the Status Register. Anywriting to the Command Register when BSY or DRQ field is set is ignoredunless the writing is to issue a Device Reset command. Please note that,according to the SATA specifications, BSY is set when the peripheraldevice is busy and is not available temporarily to the host while DRQ isset when the peripheral device is ready to transfer a word or byte ofdata between the host and the peripheral device.

Therefore, without Register FIS transmitted from the peripheral deviceto the host, the host will not be able to request the peripheral deviceto perform any operation and the peripheral device would be seemed asnot available. Generally speaking, this is a status response problem andis usually performed under the control of firmware. Thus, to write thefirmware through a SATA differential channel from a host to a peripheraldevice under the condition that the firmware is not available in theperipheral device, this status response problem must be overcame first.

SUMMARY

It is therefore one of the objectives of the claimed invention toprovide a signal generating circuit and a related method for activatinga physical channel between a host and a peripheral device without thehelp of a microprocessor disposed in the peripheral device, to solve theabove-mentioned problem.

The claimed invention provides a signal generating circuit of aperipheral device for sending an indication to a host via a serialtransmission channel to change a busy bit representing the state of theperipheral device. The signal generating circuit comprises a triggergenerator and a signal generator. The trigger generator generates atrigger signal by monitoring a control signal of the peripheral device.The signal generator, coupled to the trigger generator, generates theFIS according to the trigger signal.

In addition, the claimed invention provides a signal generating methodapplied in a peripheral device for sending an indication to a host via aserial transmission channel to change a busy bit representing a state ofthe peripheral device. The signal generating method comprises generatinga trigger signal by monitoring a control signal of the peripheraldevice; and generating the FIS according to the trigger signal.

In another aspect, the claimed invention also provides a method forestablishing a serial transmission channel between a peripheral deviceand a host. Said method comprises following steps. Provide an auxiliaryapparatus coupled to the host to establish a serial transmission channelbetween the host and the auxiliary apparatus. Trigger the serialtransmission channel between the host and the auxiliary apparatus toenter a power-down mode. Replace the auxiliary apparatus by theperipheral device so that the host and the peripheral device is coupledthrough the serial transmission channel. Send an indication from theperipheral device or the host to the host or the peripheral device towake up the serial transmission channel.

The claimed invention provides a signal generating circuit and relatedmethod for activating a physical channel between a host and a peripheraldevice under a condition of the peripheral device not utilizingfirmware. In this way, the firmware can be written into a non-volatilememory through the activated physical channel. Compared to aconventional method of writing the firmware into the non-volatile memorybefore installing the non-volatile memory on a circuit boardnecessitating the utilization of a ROM writer, the signal generatingcircuit and related method of the claimed invention save a significantamount of time and mass production cost.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of out of band (OOB) signals specified inthe SATA specifications.

FIG. 2 is a host-to-device register FIS structure according to SATAstandards.

FIG. 3 is a device-to-host register FIS structure according to SATAstandards.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an optical disc drive according to a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an optical disc drive according to a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an optical disc drive according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an optical disc drive according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of an optical discdrive utilizing an automatic send response function according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to an embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please note that, for simplicity, a host and a peripheral deviceprovided below in any embodiment are serial advanced technologyattachment (SATA) standards compliant apparatus, and the indication isstructured as a Frame Information Structure (FIS). Further, an opticaldisc drive is adopted here as an example of the peripheral device.However, these are not meant to be limitations of the present invention.The present invention is capable of being applied to any serialtransmission channel, such as USB, SAS, etc., between a host and aperipheral device.

Referring to FIG. 4, which is a block diagram of an optical disc drive120 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Theoptical disc drive 120 includes a SATA device port 121, a microprocessor122, a non-volatile memory 123, and a signal generating circuit 125. Thesignal generating circuit 125 comprises a trigger generator 124 and asignal generator 128. Additionally, the optical disc drive 120 isfurther coupled to a host 110 through a SATA cable. The host 110 has aSATA host port 115 used to communicate with the SATA device port 121 ofthe optical disc drive 120. In this embodiment, the optical disc drive120 does not yet have any firmware in the non-volatile memory 123, orthe firmware malfunctions. And the host 110 is attempting to establishand activate the serial transmission channel between the host 110 andthe optical disc drive 120 so that firmware can be installed or updatedin the non-volatile memory 123. After that, the microprocessor 122 canfunction normally to control operation of the optical disc drive 120 byexecuting the firmware installed in the non-volatile memory 123. Pleasenote that the present invention could be utilized to install or updatethe firmware into the non-volatile memory 123 by any other hardware (notshown) without any help from the microprocessor 122. Since these methodsare known to those skilled in the art, further description is omittedhere for brevity.

The serial transmission channel is a SATA differential channel in thepresent embodiment but can be any other kind of serial transmissionchannel in other embodiments. During a channel establishment procedure,the host 110 sends a control signal S_(in1) to the signal generatingcircuit 125 through the SATA host port 115 and the SATA device port 121.The trigger generator 124 of the signal generating circuit 125 monitorsthe control signal S_(in1) and is able to identify a plurality of resetsignals: COMRESET, SOFTWARERESET, DEVICE RESET and EXECUTE DEVICEDIAGNOSTIC. In this embodiment, the trigger generator 124 is a timer andthe timer starts when identifying one of the above-listed reset signals.In addition, the control signal S_(in1) is a COMRESET signal in thepresent embodiment for illustrative purpose. The trigger generator 124generates a trigger signal S_(t1) when the trigger generator 124expires.

In another embodiment, the trigger generator 124 can also detect a PhyReady state of the optical disc drive 120 after the input signal S_(in1)is inputted into the optical disc drive 120. Once the Phy Ready state isdetected, the trigger generator 124 starts to track the time of apredetermined period and then generates the trigger signal S_(t1) whenthe trigger generator 124 expires.

The trigger signal S_(t1), generated due to the detection of the resetsignal (COMRESET, SOFTWARERESET, DEVICE RESET or EXECUTE DEVICEDIAGNOSTIC) or the Phy Ready state, is then inputted into the signalgenerator 128 to generate an indication S_(r1). The indication S_(r1) issent to the host 110 through the SATA host port 115 and the SATA deviceport 121. The indication S_(r1) is used to transmit a Register FrameInformation Structure (Register FIS) and a content of the Register FIScorresponds to a GOOD status or a BAD status. The GOOD status or the BADstatus informs the host 110 of a state of the SATA differential channeland then the host 110 can send requests to the optical disc drive 120after acknowledging the state of the SATA differential channel via thereceived Register FIS. Here, definitions of the above-mentioned resetsignals, the Phy Ready state, GOOD status, and BAD status comply withSATA standards and further description is omitted here for brevity.

Referring to FIG. 5, which is a block diagram of an optical disc drive220 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Theoptical disc drive 220 includes a SATA device port 221, a microprocessor222, a non-volatile memory 223, and a signal generating circuit 225. Thesignal generating circuit 225 comprises a trigger generator 224 and asignal generator 228. Additionally, the optical disc drive 220 isfurther coupled to a host 210 through a SATA cable. The host 210 has aSATA host port 215 used to communicate with the SATA device port 221 ofthe optical disc drive 220. The functionality and operation of theoptical disc drive 220 is similar to that of the above-mentioned opticaldisc drive 120 except that the operation of the trigger generator 224differs and this difference is detailed as follows.

During the channel establishment procedure, the host 210 sends a controlsignal S_(in2) to the trigger generator 224 of the signal generatingcircuit 225 through the SATA host port 215 and the SATA device port 221.The trigger generator 224 monitors the control signal S_(in2) and isable to identify a plurality of reset signals: COMRESET, SOFTWARERESET,DEVICE RESET and EXECUTE DEVICE DIAGNOSTIC. When identifying one of thereset signals, the trigger generator 224 is enabled and allowed toreceive an external trigger signal S_(ext2). The trigger generator 224generates a trigger signal S_(t2) when the external trigger signalS_(ext2) transmits a trigger to the trigger generator 224. In anotherembodiment, the trigger generator 224 can also detect a Phy Ready stateof the optical disc drive 220 after the control signal S_(in2) isinputted into the optical disc drive 220. Once the Phy Ready state isdetected, the trigger generator 220 is enabled and allowed to receive anexternal trigger signal S_(ext2). Please note that it is the controlsignal S_(in2) that is the cause of the optical disc drive 220 beingable to enter the Phy Ready state.

The trigger signal S_(t2), generated, due to the trigger of the externaltrigger signal S_(ext2), is then inputted into the signal generator 228to generate an indication S_(r2). The indication S_(r2) is sent to thehost 210 through the SATA host port 215 and the SATA device port 221.The indication S_(r2) transmits a Register FIS and a content of theRegister FIS corresponds to a GOOD status or a BAD status. The GOODstatus or the BAD status informs the host 210 of a state of the SATAdifferential channel and then the host 210 can send requests to theoptical disc drive 220 after acknowledging the state of the SATAdifferential channel. Here, definitions of the above-mentioned resetsignals, the Phy Ready state, GOOD status, and BAD status comply withSATA standards and further description is omitted here for brevity.

Referring to FIG. 6, which is a block diagram of an optical disc drive320 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Theoptical disc drive 320 includes a SATA device port 321, a microprocessor322, a non-volatile memory 323, and a signal generating circuit 325. Thesignal generating circuit 325 comprises a trigger generator 324 and asignal generator 328. Additionally, the optical disc drive 320 isfurther coupled to a host 310 through a SATA cable. The host 310 has aSATA host port 315 used to communicate with the SATA device port 321 ofthe optical disc drive 320. The optical disc drive 320 has no firmwarein the non-volatile memory 323, or the firmware malfunctions. Theoptical disc drive 320 is attempting to wake up the existing serialtransmission channel between the host 310 and the optical disc drive 320from a power-down mode so that firmware can be installed or updated inthe non-volatile memory 323. After that, the microprocessor 322 canfunction normally to control operation of the optical disc drive 320 byexecuting the firmware installed in the non-volatile memory 323. Pleasenote that the present invention could be utilized to install or updatethe firmware into the non-volatile memory 323 by any other hardware (notshown) without any help from the microprocessor 322. Since these methodsare known to those skilled in the art, further description is omittedhere for brevity.

The serial transmission channel is a SATA differential channel in thepresent embodiment but can be any other kind of serial transmissionchannel in other embodiments. The power-down mode of the SATAdifferential channel is entered by using an auxiliary optical disc drive(not shown) having firmware. That is, before the target optical discdrive 320 having no firmware is coupled to the host 310, an auxiliaryoptical disc drive having firmware is coupled to the host 310. Since theauxiliary optical disc drive has firmware, it can successfully offer astate of the SATA differential channel to the host 310 utilizingfirmware. After the host 310 receives the state of the SATA differentialchannel provided by the auxiliary optical disc drive, the SATAdifferential channel is deemed successfully established. Then, accordingto SATA standards, either the host 310 or the auxiliary optical discdrive is allowed to ask the counterpart to enter the power-down mode.Because the SATA differential channel is suspended in a power-down mode,one can freely decouple the host 310 and the auxiliary optical discdrive without terminating the SATA differential channel.

Finally, the optical disc drive 320, having no firmware, is coupled tothe host 310. It is the above-mentioned procedure that causes the SATAdifferential channel between the host 310 and the optical disc drive 320to be in a power-down mode. In this embodiment, the trigger generator324 of the signal generating circuit 325 is a timer and the timer startsto track the time of a predetermined period when the optical disc drive320 is powered on. When expiring, the trigger generator 324 generates atrigger signal S_(t3) accordingly. In another embodiment, the opticaldisc drive 320 may generate a control signal to the trigger generator324. For example, when a Phy Ready state is detected, the control signalis delivered to inform the trigger generator 324 of this detected state.The trigger generator 324 then generates the trigger signal S_(t3)accordingly. Please note that the above-mentioned timing for the timerto start is only an example and not meant to be a limitation of thepresent invention. The trigger signal S_(t3) is then inputted into thesignal generator 328 to generate an indication S_(r3). The indicationS_(r3) is sent to the host 310 through the SATA host port 315 and theSATA device port 321. In this embodiment, the indication S_(r3)transmits a COMWAKE signal to wake up the existing SATA differentialchannel to enter a power-on mode. Once the SATA differential channelenters the power-on mode, the host 310 can start sending requests to theoptical disc drive 320. Here, definitions of the above-mentioned COMWAKEsignal, power-down mode, and power-on mode comply with SATA standardsand further description is omitted here for brevity.

Referring to FIG. 7, which is a block diagram of an optical disc drive420 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Theoptical disc drive 420 includes a SATA device port 421, a microprocessor422, a non-volatile memory 423, and a signal generating circuit 425. Thesignal generating circuit 425 comprises a trigger generator 424 and asignal generator 428. Additionally, the optical disc drive 420 isfurther coupled to a host 410 through a SATA cable. The host 410 has aSATA host port 415 used to communicate with the SATA device port 421 ofthe optical disc drive 420. The functionality and operation of theoptical disc drive 420 is similar to that of the optical disc drive 320except the operation of the trigger generator 424 is different and thosedifferences are detailed as follows.

The power-down mode of the SATA differential channel is entered by usingan auxiliary optical disc drive (not shown) having firmware. Then, theoptical disc drive 420, having no firmware, is coupled to the host 410for replacing the auxiliary optical disc drive. It is theabove-mentioned procedure that causes the SATA differential channelbetween the host 410 and the optical disc drive 420 to be in apower-down mode. The trigger generator 424 of the signal generatingcircuit 425 is used for receiving an external trigger signal S_(ext4)and the trigger generator 424 generates a trigger signal S_(t4) when theexternal trigger signal S_(ext4) transmits a trigger inputted to thetrigger generator 424. In another embodiment, the trigger generator 424is also enabled by a control signal and then can receive the externaltrigger signal S_(ext4). For example, when a Phy Ready state isdetected, the control signal is delivered to inform the triggergenerator 324 of this detected state, thereby allowing the triggergenerator 424 to receive the external trigger signal S_(ext4). Thetrigger signal S_(t4) is then inputted into the signal generator 428 togenerate an indication S_(r4) that transmits a COMWAKE signal to wake upthe SATA differential channel to enter a power-on mode. The indicationS_(r4) is sent to the host 410 through the SATA host port 415 and theSATA device port 421. Once the SATA differential channel enters thepower-on mode, the host 410 can start sending requests to the opticaldisc drive 420. Here, definitions of the above-mentioned COMWAKE signal,power-down mode, and power-on mode comply with SATA standards andfurther description is omitted here for brevity.

As mentioned above, the present invention can automatically activate aserial transmission channel between a host and a peripheral device. Whenthe serial transmission channel between the host and the peripheraldevice has been successfully activate, the host can install the firmwaredesigned for the peripheral device into the non-volatile memory of theperipheral device via the physical channel. However, since running thefirmware is capable of replying the device status to the host forcompleting the channel establishment, the above automatic send responsefunction can be disabled after the firmware has been installed into theperipheral device. Please refer to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flow chart ofutilizing the automatic send response function according to anembodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, when powered on(Step 510), the optical disc drive 120 starts receiving a control signalS_(in1) from the host 110 through the SATA host port 115 and the SATAdevice port 121. The trigger generator 124 examines the incoming controlsignal S_(in1) to check if the control signal S_(in1) is one of thereset signals: COMRESET, SOFTWARERESET, DEVICE RESET and EXECUTE DEVICEDIAGNOSTIC (Step 540). If the control signal S_(in1) is not one of thereset signals, the trigger generator 124 ignores the control signalS_(in1), and then proceeds to Step 580. On the other hand, if thecontrol signal S_(in1) is one of the reset signals, the triggergenerator 124 further checks whether the automatic send responsefunction is disabled or not disabled (Step 550). If the automatic sendresponse function has been disabled, the trigger generator 124 ignoresthe control signal S_(in1) and then proceeds to Step 580. On the otherhand, if the automatic send response function is not disabled, thetrigger generator 124 generates a trigger signal S_(t1) at appropriatetiming (Step 560). According to the trigger signal S_(t1), an indicationS_(r1) will be generated by the signal generator 128 and outputted tothe host 110 (Step 570).

On the other hand, if the firmware designed for the optical disc drive120 has been installed into the optical disc drive 120, the optical discdrive 120 is capable of performing its functionality by running theinstalled firmware in the non-volatile memory 123. Under this condition,the control signal S_(in1) is processed according to the runningfirmware instead of the automatic send response function (Step 520).Then, the running firmware will disable the automatic send responsefunction (Step 530). Therefore, the firmware now is responsible forreplying an indication to the host 110 in response to the control signalS_(in1). Please note that, the flow shown in FIG. 8 is applicable toother embodiments such that an optical disc drive will disable theautomatic send response function when firmware is installed in theoptical disc drive.

Please refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The method is foractivating a physical channel between a host and a peripheral device.The peripheral device has no firmware installed. The physical channel isa SATA differential channel in the present embodiment but the physicalchannel can be any other kind of serial transmission channel in otherembodiments. Please note that the method does not utilize a REGISTER FISto send state information between the host and the peripheral device.For illustration, an optical disc drive is adopted as the peripheraldevice. Each step of the method is detailed as follows:

Step 610: An auxiliary optical disc drive having firmware is utilizedand is coupled to a host. The auxiliary optical disc drive utilizes thefirmware to establish a SATA differential channel between the host andthe auxiliary optical disc drive.

Step 620: Trigger the SATA differential channel between the host and theauxiliary apparatus to enter a power-down mode by either the host or theauxiliary optical disc drive.

Step 630: Decouple the host and the auxiliary optical disc drive andthen couple the host with a target optical disc drive having no firmwarethrough the SATA differential channel. Because the SATA differentialchannel is suspended in a power-down mode, one can freely decouple thehost and the auxiliary optical disc drive without terminating the SATAdifferential channel. After the target optical disc drive is powered on,the target optical disc drive and the host are now in power-down modeand the SATA differential channel between the target optical disc driveand the host is suspended.

Step 640: Either the host or the target optical sends a COMWAKE signalto wake up the SATA differential channel to enter a power-on mode. As aresult, a SATA differential channel between the host and the targetoptical disc drive having no firmware is established successfully.

The claimed invention provides a signal generating circuit and relatedmethod for activating a serial transmission channel between a host and aperipheral device under a condition of the peripheral device notutilizing firmware. In this way, the firmware can be written into anon-volatile memory through the activated serial transmission channel.Compared to a conventional method of writing the firmware into thenon-volatile memory in advance utilizing a ROM writer before installingthe non-volatile memory on a circuit board, the signal generatingcircuit and related method of the claimed invention save a lot of timeand mass production cost.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

1. A peripheral device with non-working firmware, the device comprising:a serial transmission port being coupled to a host; a microprocessorbeing coupled to the serial transmission port for performing functionsof the peripheral device utilizing the serial transmission portaccording to firmware instructions; a non-volatile memory for holdingthe firmware instructions; and a signal generating circuit being coupledto the serial transmission port for activating a serial transmissionchannel, which complies with Serial ATA (SATA) protocols, to the hostthrough the serial transmission port without the help of themicroprocessor to thereby retrieve the firmware instructions from thehost via the serial transmission channel for installation into thenon-volatile memory, wherein the signal generator includes: a triggergenerator for generating a trigger signal according to a control signalreceived from the host via the serial transmission port; and a signalgenerator for transmitting an indication signal to the host via theserial transmission port according to the trigger signal to therebyactivate the serial transmission channel between the host and theperipheral device.
 2. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein thesignal generating circuit is for activating the serial transmissionchannel to the host through the serial transmission port when themicroprocessor cannot operate due to missing or corrupted firmwareinstructions.
 3. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein, after thefirmware instructions have been installed in the non-volatile memory,the peripheral device is for disabling the signal generating circuitduring normal operations of the peripheral device as conducted by themicroprocessor.
 4. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the controlsignal is selected from the group consisting of a COMRESET signal, aSOFTWARERESET signal, a DEVICE RESET signal, and an EXECUTE DEVICEDIAGNOSTIC signal.
 5. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein thetrigger signal is generated when the SATA transmission channel enters aPhy Ready state.
 6. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein theindication signal is a Register Frame Information Structure (RegisterFIS).
 7. The peripheral device of claim 6, wherein a content of theRegister FIS corresponds to a GOOD status or a BAD status.
 8. Theperipheral device of claim 1, wherein the SATA transmission channel isin a power-down mode.
 9. The peripheral device of claim 8, wherein theindication signal is a COMWAKE signal to wake up the SATA transmissionchannel.
 10. A method of installing firmware into a peripheral devicehaving non-working firmware, the method comprising: coupling theperipheral device to a host utilizing a serial transmission port on theperipheral device; providing a microprocessor within the peripheraldevice being coupled to the serial transmission port for performingfunctions of the peripheral device utilizing the serial transmissionport according to firmware instructions; providing a non-volatile memorywithin the peripheral device for holding the firmware instructions;generating a trigger signal according to a control signal received fromthe host via the serial transmission port; and activating a serialtransmission channel, which complies with Serial ATA (SATA) protocols,between the peripheral device and the host through the serialtransmission port without the help of the microprocessor to therebyretrieve the firmware instructions from the host via the serialtransmission channel for installation into the non-volatile memory,wherein activating a serial transmission channel further comprisestransmitting an indication signal to the host via the serialtransmission port according to the trigger signal to thereby activatethe serial transmission.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprisingactivating the serial transmission channel between the peripheral deviceand the host through the serial transmission port when themicroprocessor cannot operate due to missing or corrupted firmwareinstructions.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein, after the firmwareinstructions have been installed in the non-volatile memory, activatingthe serial transmission channel utilizing the microprocessor duringnormal operations of the peripheral device.
 13. The method of claim 10,wherein the control signal is selected from the group consisting of aCOMRESET signal, a SOFTWARERESET signal, a DEVICE RESET signal, and anEXECUTE DEVICE DIAGNOSTIC signal.
 14. The method of claim 10, whereinthe trigger signal is generated when the SATA transmission channelenters a Phy Ready state.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein theindication signal is a Register Frame Information Structure (RegisterFIS).
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein a content of the Register FIScorresponds to a GOOD status or a BAD status.
 17. The method of claim10, further comprising: attaching an auxiliary device having workingfirmware to the host to thereby establish an initial SATA transmissionchannel; powering down the initial SATA transmission channel; andreplacing the auxiliary device with the peripheral device having thenon-working firmware so that the peripheral device having thenon-working firmware is attached to the SATA transmission channel in apower-down mode.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indicationsignal is a COMWAKE signal to wake up the SATA transmission channel.